August 05, 2024
Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? (Hebrews 12:7)
Everyone suffers. Sometimes, we bring it upon ourselves, but other times, it comes to us from unavoidable sources. Suffering is anything that is hard, painful, enduring, and challenging to handle.
GOD’S VIEW
From heaven’s perspective, the Lord views all of this as that which, when properly responded to, can bring good. It can develop us and train us. It can help others, providing extraordinary examples. The gist of Hebrews 12 is to embrace suffering and find God in the midst of it. That He is sufficient. That He can work “all things together for good.”
And then He gives a million examples: Job, Paul, Corrie Ten Boom, Joni Earickson, and on and on throughout history … people who endured and found God’s grace “greater still.”
Are you suffering? You can cry out for deliverance. Jesus did (in Gethsemane), Paul did (with the thorn in the flesh), but if God chooses to allow it to remain for a season, know that He has plans to use it in such glorious ways that will cause you to rejoice in heaven. He knows what He’s about.
May 08, 2025
All of us are dramatically shaped by how we view ourselves. Some have too low a perspective; some too high. To be imbalanced here is harmful in either direction.
May 06, 2025
We spend our lives trying to gain certain things and are full of joy when we get them. Our first car, our first job, our first home. Reputation, and prestige, and influence. The list is long. But is it possible to have all those things and not have the most important thing?
April 30, 2025
And then he said with a twinkle in his eye that had seen nine decades plus, “I believe this may be the best season of my life!”
